December 2008 - Issue 4

Welcome to this month's edition of iProCon Insight, your leading source of Human Capital Management theory and practical advice. iProCon HCM wish all our subscribers a very happy and safe festive season, and a successful 2009!

Features

News: iProCon HCM launch new website
White Paper: Measuring and sustaining cost cutting initiatives
Case Study: The return on investment in talent management
Case Study: Managing Human Capital in a downturn
BiteSize: Our regular collection of articles aimed to help your business performance improve through human capital
Recommended Book: Learn how to manage great innovators with “iWoz”
Events: iProCon HCM will be at two events in January 2009.

News

iProCon HCM have launched their new website. Although the address hasn't changed (www.iproconhcm.co.uk), the new site delivers a raft of new functionality aimed at making your experience with our site both more effective and more efficient. Key additions include the addition of latest news on the homepage, Latest Thinking complete with RSS feed, a secure area for our clients and an improved user interface. Take a look, and if you have any feedback (either good or bad) we'd love to hear it.

	Measuring and Sustaining Cost Cutting Initiatives

The global economic downturn provides many organisations with an ideal opportunity to restructure their business to make it more efficient in the long-term. Organisations undertaking restructuring programmes should be concerned with the sobering statistics that indicate the vast majority of cost cutting initiatives fail to achieve their expected savings targets.

This paper focuses on understanding and measuring the impact of cost saving programmes, as well as techniques to embed changes into the organisation’s DNA so that the intent of the programme continues to deliver positive results long after the initial programme has been completed.

Click here to read the full article.

	The Return on Investment in Talent

There are two hotels that our team regularly stays at. Both are of a similar size. Both are finished to approximately the same standard. They are both within walking distance of each other. Yet one can charge 20% more than the other, and is always difficult to book into. This mini case we’ll explore how people management makes all the difference in customer service between the two hotels and clearly show how superior Human Capital delivers a 20% advantage on the bottom line.

Click here to read the full article.

Managing Human Capital in a Downturn

As the economic downturn begins to bite more companies are turning to redundancies as a way of cutting costs. A variety of methods are used to determine who should stay and who should go, some more advised than others. This mini case examines a couple of different approaches being used at present, and goes on to look at how organisations can select the people they will et go, as well as what do do about minimising the effect on those that remain.

Click here to read the full article.

BiteSize

The right sourcing decisions can help you manage the downturn

The current economic downturn puts Outsourcing high on the agenda for organisations seeking cost savings. There are many traps associated with hasty sourcing decisions - click here for a few tips.

Statistics and EEO legislation could get you in trouble

A precedent was recently set in German labour law when statistics were used as evidence that sexual discrimination was taking place in the workplace. Click here to read more.

Innovative metrics place focus on the right aspects of performance

Innovative ways of of measuring the performance of an organisation can help people focus on the aspects of performance that matter most. Click here to view the full article.

Executive Pay: How much is "fair"?

While executive pay has always been a controversial topic, the financial crisis brought it into the very centre of discussion. A recent study examined the issue of "fairness" - click here to read the full article.

Recommended book: "iWoz"

The knowledge source on our website offers a selection of books that the team at iProCon HCM have found beneficial. This month we present a book that gives an "employee's view" of the early Apple years.

	“iWoz” gives great insight into what is needed to manage, retain and motivate one of the world’s great innovators, Steve Wozniak (creator of the Apple I and II). Click here to read the full review.

Events

HCM Focus Day - 20th Jan 2009

The role of HR in driving shareholder value through right-sourcing is the topic of an iProCon HCM workshop at the European HCM Summit. To be held at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham on the 20th January 2009, the workshop highlights the importance of core processes, capabilities, culture, and the external environment in sourcing decisions, and shows how the HR Directors can increase shareholder value through clear links to sources of value.

For further information please visit the summit website.

European HR Directors Summit

iProCon HCM is pleased to announce its presence at the European HR Directors Business Summit. The summit, held at the ICC Birmingham on the 21st and 22nd January 2009, showcases Europe’s leading HR experts debating the latest ideas, issues and innovations in HR.

For further information, please visit the summit website at http://www.hrevent.com/.